Acid dispenser



Aug. 30, 1966 e. v. ANDERSON ACID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. '7, 1964 INVENTOR. 11 E/(M/ k Ali/0555010 1 M 0 K m7 OH 0 A M BRM MM T n 5 Aug. 30, 1966 G. v. ANDERSON ACID DISPENSER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

Filed Oct. 7, 1964 1 NVENTOR.

GAE/UN M AA/DEEso/U DUGGEFL BRADDOCK Jomvsmv' United States Patent 3,269,607 ACID DISPENSER Glenn V. Anderson, Box 8, Welch, Minn. Filed Oct. 7, 1964, Ser. N0. 402,309 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-173) This invention relates in general to a device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of a corrosive liquid such as acid.

The desirability of somehow providing a simple, yet effective device for dispensing acid has been accentuated more recently by the recognition of the many deficiencies in the prior art devices which are now commercially available. The manufacturers of these devices, in order to meet their competition, have strived to simplify these devices by incorporating them as an integral part of the acid supply bottle or carboy itself. Although designs of this type are simple and may present a bargain, they have not been satisfactory in several respects. oftentimes, as a result of their simple and inexpensive structure, these devices fail to satisfy the requirements demanded by most commercial users, namely, proper capacity, durability, and versatility. In addition to the foregoing, several other requirements must be satisfied. It is of prime importance that the dispenser be completely free of metal contact with the acid to insure against contamination of the acid and severe corrosion of the metal. Another requirement arises due to the tendency of certain acids to deteriorate when exposed to light. Accordingly, if the dispenser is to be used for these acids, it must be lightexcluding. Yet another requirement stems from the desirability to prevent leakage or spilling of the acid, especially in the vicinity of the outlet nozzle or spigot. Other considerations as to loading accessibility and convenience, as well as size, shape and reliability go far in determining the utility of such devices.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to eliminate the above shortcomings inherent in the acid dispensers now available and to provide a durable device which has large capacity, which completely eliminates metal contact with the corrosive liquid, which is compact in design and readily adaptable for use, which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is adapted to exclude light, and which possesses a pleasing overall appearance.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of an acid dispenser which can be conveniently operated by a hand lever and the relative motion thereof predetermines the amount of acid to be dispensed.

Still another object of this invention resides in the novel and versatile manner the device cooperates structurally and functionally with the acid carboys now being sold on the market.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an acid dispenser which can be used to dispense relatively small quantities as well as larger quantities.

A further object of this invention is to provide a dispenser used to dispense sulphuric acid and is specially adapted for use in creameries or testing laboratories which are concerned with obtaining the butterfat content of dairy products.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawings, I

FIGURE 1 is a plan view showing the dispenser with its top cover removed;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation showing the specific structure of the acid pump assembly according to this invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken along the lines 33 of FIGURE 1 and further showing the specific structure of the acid pump assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the lines 44 of FIGURE 1 showing the specific structure of the check valve assembly;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 2 showing the specific structure of the spigot assembly;

FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation showing the functional relationship of the main components of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URES 1 and 2, the invention is shown generally comprising an outer metal housing 8 which completely encases the essential internal components of the device including an acid supply source 10, pump assembly 12, and check valve assembly 14. The valve assembly 14 is in fluid-communicating relation with the acid pump assembly 12 via pastic conduit 16 and is similarly in communication with the acid supply source 10 by means of plastic conduit 18. Mounted to the exterior of housing 8 is spigot assembly 20 which is in turn in fluid-communicating relation with valve assembly 14 via plastic conduit 22. Accordingly, the foregoing components cooperate to dispense a predetermined quantity of acid at the outlet nozzle 23 of spigot assembly 20. Each of these components will now be described in greater detail.

The housing The housing is composed of chromium-nickel stainless steel and includes the side sections 24, a bottom section 26, and a removable cover 28 which jointly contribute to a very durable and rigid encasement for the invention. Rubber legs 30 are mounted to the bottom section 26. The design of the housing presents a pleasing overall appearance and such is readily maintained due to the strong corrosion resistance of the stainless steel.

The acid supply source The check valve assembly As best shown in FIGURE 4, the check valve assembly 14 is composed of polyethylene or glass and includes an inner sealed chamber 36, a lower normally closed check valve 38 and an upper normally closed check valve 40'. The interior chamber 36 is in communication with the reservoir of acid in jug 32 via the lower valve 38 and conduit .18. The chamber 36 is also in communication with the spigot assembly 20 via upper check valve 40 and conduit 22.. The entire valve assembly 14 is secured by U-shaped bracket 42, having a flange section 43 which is in turn secured to the side section 24 by carriage bolts 44. Bolt assembly 46 permits adjustment of the tension upon the bracket 42. Interposed between the bracket 42 and the valve assembly 14 are packings 47, 47 which prevent damage to the valve and also facilitate the mounting of the valve assembly in the bracket 42.

The pump assembly Pump assembly 12 includes a piston 48 which is slidably mounted in a cylinder 50 and defining an upper sealed chamber 52 which is in communication with chamber 36 via the plastic conduit 16. The piston 48 and cylinder 50 are also composed of an acid resistant plastic material such as polyethylene or, alternately, may be composed of glass. The lower end of piston 48 has a button head member 60 which is in turn pivotally secured to frame support 62 by bolt assembly 64. At 65 is shown an operator handle having its lower end bolted at 66 to the U-bar member 60. The handle 65 extends outwardly through an opening in the section 24 and is restrained in its rest position by stop 67 and can be held in a fully opened position by latch 68. As will be readily understood, there is thus provided a continuous linkage from the piston 48 to the operator handle 65 whereby reciprocating motion may be imparted to the piston 48 by actuation of the operator handle 65 and the relative motion thereof determines the relative motion of the piston 48. Extension spring 69 is provided to bias the linkage into the dotted line or rest position of FIGURE 2.

The spigot assembly Referring to FIGURE 5, the spigot assembly 20 is shown including a cylindrically shaped body portion 70 which is secured to the interior of section 24 by means of screw fasteners 72. The body 70 is preferably composed of a relatively rigid plastic material and is proportioned diametrically so as to be substantially larger in cross-section than the conduit 22. The body 70 is provided with an inlet recess 73 which presents a sealed fit for the end portion of conduit 22 which is fitted therein through the aperture 74 in the side section 24. Similarly, the body portion 70 is provided with an outlet recess 76 adapted to receive the outlet nozzle 23. Interconnecting the nozzle 23 and the conduit 22 is central bore 77. As shown by the drawings, the outlet nozzle 23 extends substantially outwardly from the side section 24 of the housing whereby any acid drippings are kept away from contacting the same. By means of the foregoing construction of the spigot assembly, a very durable and completely sealed structure for preventing contact of the acid with the metal is achieved.

Operation The operation of the invention is best understood by tracing the transfer of acid from the jug 32 to the discharge nozzle 23, as indicated by the arrows in the'schematic of FIGURE 6. When the dispenser is in its rest position, the upper check valve 40 is in its normally closed position, the lower check valve 38 is in its normally closed conduit 18, through the valve 38 and into the chamber 36. Similarly, the acid pump assembly is disposed below the acid level in the jug 32 whereby the pressure diflerential is sufficient to fill upper chamber 52 with acid siphoned from the inner chamber 36 via the conduit 16. In summary, all the lines and chambers are filled with acid up to the point of the upper check valve 40.

Upon actuation of the handle 65 in a downward direction, the piston 48 moves upwardly and acts against the acid in chamber 52 causing increased pressure in chamber 36 which in turn causes upper valve 40 to open and lower valve 38 to be forced closed. As a result of this pumping stroke of the piston, the acid in chamber 36 passes through valve 40, into conduit 20 and outwardly to be discharged through nozzle 23. Upon reversing the handle 65, the piston goes through its intake stroke and sufiicient vacuum pressure is created in chamber 36 so as to cause the valve 40 to close and valve 38 to open as the acid is drawn into the chambers 36 and 52.

As will be readily understood, the amount of acid dispensed at the nozzle 23 will depend upon the relative motion of the lever handle 65 since the latter, in conjunction with the linkage provided, controls the amount of movement of the cylinder 50 within the piston 48. Accordingly, a graduated scale may be provided in the vicinity of the lever handle 65 and thus the amount to be dispensed may be predetermined by reference to this scale.

A particular advantage of the construction of the acid dispenser is manifested by the novel way in which plastic materials are used to convey the acid, whereas metal materials are used to achieve the required durability. For example, the specific structure of the acid pump assembly and the way in which it is actuated, has been found very resirable because it provides ample capacity, yet is additionally adapted to be used for dispensing small acid quantities.

Other apparent advantages stem from the rigid construction of the housing and its ability to exclude light from its interior. Further advantages lie in the manner in which the dispenser readilyaccommodates the acid supply bottle and the ease in which such may be removed and replaced. There is thus provided an acid dispenser which is adapted for commercial, as well as small lab use, and which fulfills the foregoing listed objectives.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing a predetermined quantity of corrosive liquid such as acid, comprising in combination:

a housing,

an acid supply source mounted within said housing,

a valve assembly having a normally closed upper check valve and a normally closed lower check valve and a fluid supporting interior chamber therebetween,

spigot assembly mounted to the exterior of said housing for discharging the predetermined quantity of acid,

an acid pump assembly having a cylindrical and piston slidably mounted therein defining an upper sealed chamber,

said pump assembly including linkage means for actuating said piston within said cylinder and thereby vary the fluid pressure of acting on the acid within said upper chamber, said linkage means including a U-shaped bar having lever ends adapted to straddle said cylinder,

first conduit means connecting said acid supply source with said valve assembly, said first conduit means being in fluid-communicating relation with said interior chamber of said valve assembly when said valve assembly and said linkage means are in their rest positions,

a second conduit means interconnecting said upper chamber of said pump assembly with said interior chamber of said valve assembly, and in fluid-communicating relation therewith,

third conduit means interconnecting said valve assembly with said spigot assembly, said third conduit means being in fluid-communicating relation with said interior chamber of said valve assembly when said valve assembly and said linkage means are in their opened positions.

2. The combinaion as specified in claim 1 wherein said linkage means is actuated by an operator handle extending outside said housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 506,708 10/1893 Middleton 222383 X 514,172 2/ 1894 Torchiani 222-372 X 2,616,095 11/ 1952 Stuckey 222372 X 3,206,530 9/1965 Boteler 251-368 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

R. CARTER, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF CORROSIVE LIQUID SUCH AS ACID, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: A HOUSING, AN ACID SUPPLY SOURCE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID HOUSING, A VALVE ASSEMBLY HAVING A NORMALLY CLOSED UPPER CHECK VALVE AND A NORMALLY CLOSED LOWER CHECK VALVE AND A FLUID SUPPORTING INTERIOR CHAMBER THEREBETWEEN, SPIGOT ASSEMBLY MOUNTED TO THE EXTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING FOR DISCHARGING THE PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF ACID, AN ACID PUMP ASSEMBLY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL AND PISTON SLIDABLY MOUNTED THEREIN DEFINING AN UPPER SEALED CHAMBER, SAID PUMP ASSEMBLY INCLUDING LINKAGE MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER AND THEREBY VARY THE FLUID PRESSURE OF ACTING ON THE ACID WITHIN SAID UPPER CHAMBER, SAID LINKAGE MEANS INCLUDING A U-SHAPED BAR HAVING LEVER ENDS ADAPTED TO STRADDLE SAID CYLINDER, FIRST CONDUIT MEANS CONNECTING SAID ACID SUPPLY SOURCE WITH SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY, SAID FIRST CONDUIT MEANS BEING IN FLUID-COMMUNICATING RELATION WITH SAID INTERIOR CHAMBER OF SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY WHEN SAID VALVE ASSEMBLY AND SAID LINKAGE MEANS ARE IN THEIR REST POSITIONS, A SECOND CONDUIT MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID UPPER CHAMBER OF SAID PUMP ASSEMBLY WITH SAID INTERIOR 